Hadhramout’s Al Mukalla Radio Rises From the Ashes
Article by UNIPATH STAFF | Photos by AL MUKALLA RADIO
After nearly 50 years of serving the public in Yemen’s Hadhramout governorate, Al Mukalla Radio headquarters was burned to the ground in April 2015 by al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.
Despite the devastating loss, the popular radio station deserves credit for overcoming adversity. On August 31, 2016, the governor of Hadhramout, Maj. Gen. Ahmed Saeed bin Bareek, officially reopened Al Mukalla Radio with a broadcast from its new headquarters in Al Mukalla city.
As part of an Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) drive to support the media sector in Yemen with equipment and other necessities, the ERC financed the station’s restoration. Afrah Mohammed Juma’a Khan, director-general of Al Mukalla Radio, became the first woman in the region to become general manager of a media platform. In 2016, Khan was named one of the top 100 women in the Arab world and one of the top four most influential women in Yemen.
When a “spiteful group of mercenaries” affiliated with al-Qaida burned down the Al Mukalla station on April 2, 2015, they thought their “contemptible and despicable act would silence such media forever” and prevent the station’s broad audience of listeners from following it, she said. “But they will be surprised when they realize that Al Mukalla Radio, whose voice they tried to stifle, rose from the rubble to continue its media mission in these difficult circumstances with the help of Allah, as well as the efforts of loyal people and philanthropists, who have spared no effort to overcome the difficulties that faced the radio operation.”
Khan expressed her gratitude to the dedicated men who supported the effort to reopen the radio station, including Maj. Gen. Ahmed; Red Crescent team leader Matar Al Ketbi; and Maj. Gen. Faraj Salmin al-Mahsani.
“It is my pleasure that Radio Mukalla is back on air in its new headquarters, and it is our listeners’ pleasure to join us after a difficult period of interrupted broadcasting,” she said. “In truth, it is impossible to fully express our gratitude to the men who stood with us and supported us in restarting our radio broadcasts, improving our republic by beginning our broadcast anew.”
Established in 1967, Al Mukalla Radio is considered one of the most influential media outlets in Yemeni society and is best known for its educational and cultural awareness programs. Supported by the Hadhramout Tribal Alliance, the radio specifically focuses on community service and political development. For example, one of the most popular programs, Good Morning, Hadhramout, broadcasts live and allows listeners to call in. Sports coverage is also popular.
Long been considered one of the few outlets through which the government and citizens can communicate, the station’s presence is felt in nearly every household in the city and its suburbs.
“With varied and targeted programs that address the concerns of the people, Radio Mukalla attracts many listeners,” Khan said. “In the past, we received about 400 phone calls and 500 emails in response to our weekly live broadcast. Now, Radio Mukalla has started to increase its activity with the assistance of our brothers in the UAE, the governor and the military commander.”
The operation includes two studios outfitted with all the equipment, means of production and acoustics, administrative and technical offices necessary for radio production, in addition to two transmitters. One transmitter has a capacity of 300 watts and broadcasts at an FM frequency of 98.5 MHz, enough to cover Al Mukalla city and its suburbs to the west of the Burum and Bouiche regions. The other has a capacity of one kilowatt, and its signal can reach most of the Hadhramout coast.
During the reopening, Maj. Gen. Ahmed expressed his pleasure at the restoration of Al Mukalla Radio, which he noted will guide and serve different segments of society in the name of progress. The governor emphasized the important mission of radio in spreading information, building awareness and addressing societal issues in the cultural, artistic and sporting realms.
Maj. Gen. Ahmed said he wants to extend radio broadcasts from five hours to 12 hours per day. Especially desirable are live broadcasts, which open windows between listeners and social service providers, address vital issues and refute rumors and gossip.
In his speech, the governor called the reopening of the radio station part of a broader mission to meet the needs of citizens by improving access to electricity, water, petroleum products and food. Above all, he said, the government and military seek to establish security and stability for everyone in Hadhramout. With the full support of elite military units and public security forces, he said, citizens can live in security, harmony and tranquility. He praised the continuous support of coalition countries led by the United Arab Emirates, which has contributed to providing services and security, as well as the efforts of the directors general, who contributed, through their dedicated roles in achieving stability in their directorates, to providing decent lives for Yemenis.
Khan’s vision is to empower women in Yemen to take a role in building a safe and stable community. To that end, she has worked to include female employees in the radio station’s work, where they can be “recognized for their partnership with men in building a stable society,” she said.
“These women’s voices will help raise generations on the radio by broadcasting awareness programs and communicating with mothers and housewives,” she said. “The working mothers on Radio Mukalla send a cultural message to other mothers, sisters and wives. … By placing the work of women side by side with that of men, … Radio Mukalla plays a crucial role in showing the benefit of partnership between women and men.”
Al Ketbi, chairman of Emirates Red Crescent team in the Hadhramout, congratulated Yemenis on the reopening, thanking the teams and staff at the station for restoring this vital media edifice and singling out the Hadhramout governor for praise. Al Ketbi said the Red Crescent will continue to play a role in development projects, restoring infrastructure and providing relief aid in the future.
Reflecting on the heinous crime committed against the station, Khan noted the role media itself must play in preventing future similar attacks.
“We were aware of the danger of terrorism and the threat it poses to society. It is imperative that we, the media, denounce these deviant and extremist ideas,” she said. “Radio Mukalla works to educate citizens through the media, urging nonviolence and tolerance. We remain on the front lines against extremist ideas, so the government must protect media institutions by training the forces assigned to protect them and strengthening the forces with enhanced equipment and ammunition.”
During the months of silence while the radio station was rebuilt, Khan worked to keep hope alive through Al Mukalla Radio’s Facebook page. A picture showed her standing beside Sheikh Omar bin Habrish, commenting that “she will knock on all doors to return the voice and beloved impact of Al Mukalla Radio.” She thanked the alliance of Hadhramout tribes, represented by the chairman of the alliance, Sheikh Amr bin Ali bin Habrish Al’ali of the Bin Habrish tribe.
Khan promised to keep Al Mukalla Radio faithful to its heritage and noted that almost all of the radio archive with its vast historical, cultural and artistic content had been recovered, as has the station’s music library.
She urged everyone to “unify ranks, make wonderful performances and invoke the spirit of sincere cooperation to continue the positive role played by Al Mukalla Radio among its listeners.”
Sources: Naba Hadramout website, Emirates News Agency-WAM